Dan Riddiford

Daniel Johnston (Dan) Riddiford MC (11 March 1914 – 26 October 1974) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1960–1963	33rd	Wellington Central		National
1963–1966	34th	Wellington Central		National
1966–1969	35th	Wellington Central		National
1969–1972	36th	Wellington Central		National

Riddiford was born in Featherston in 1914 a grandson of "King" Riddiford and Sydney Johnston of Oruawharo. He was educated in the UK at Downside School, Somerset, and New College, Oxford. He gained an MA in Modern Greats from Oxford, and also an LLB from the University of New Zealand. From 1932 to 1937, he farmed in the Wairarapa on family-owned land.^[1]

He joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1939 and was an officer with the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery. He was a prisoner of war in Italy from 1941 until his escape in 1943.^[1] He was awarded the MC in World War II.^[2] From 1946, he had a law practice in Wellington.^[1]

Riddiford contested the Petone electorate in the 1957 election,^[1] but was beaten by the incumbent, Labour's Michael Moohan.^[3] In the 1960 election, he stood in the Wellington Central electorate and defeated the incumbent, Labour's Frank Kitts.^[4] Riddiford remained in Parliament until 1972, when he retired.^[5] Under Keith Holyoake, he was Minister of Justice (1969–1972) and Attorney-General (1971–1972).^[6]

For a number of years Riddiford was also a director of The Dominion newspaper (now The Dominion Post).^[2]

Notes

1. Gustafson 1986, p. 339.
2. Riddiford 2004.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 221.
4. Wilson 1985, pp. 211, 231.
5. Wilson 1985, p. 231.
6. Wilson 1985, p. 90.

References

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Riddiford, Daniel (2004). Yvonne Riddiford, ed. Committed to Escape—A New Zealand Soldier's Story. Martinborough: Ruamahanga Press. ISBN 0-476-01065-9. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.